A/N: A big thank you to everyone for your reviews. I appreciate the feedback very, very much! Also, I apologize for the confusion with chapter three. When I was editing it, somehow the chapter disappeared. I believe I hit the delete button by mistake and didn’t realize it…oops! The administrator was kind enough to post it again and that’s why you see chapter three twice. I’ve been very busy lately so I guess those mistakes are going to happen. Okay, enough of my rambling…lol! And now I present to you the final chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter four: Number 3 Bagshot Row

Frodo bounded from the cart along with two elder hobbits who knew the Gamgees. He met them at the inn and they offered their hospitality by carrying an unconscious Sam toward Bagshot Row. The Gaffer raced outside his home and frantic when he saw his son had been injured.

“Take him to the bedroom,” he said quickly to the elder hobbits and when Hamfast scurried through the parlor, Frodo was beside him. “What happened?”

“There was a fight at the inn,” said Frodo breathlessly.

“A fight? Who did Sam get into trouble with?”

Frodo shook his head. Catching his breath for a moment, he went on. “The fight had nothing to do with Sam. It was between two hobbits sitting behind us. It got out of hand and one of them struck Sam. He fell down and hit his head.”

“How can that happen if Sam hadn’t been involved?”

“It was an accident.”

The Gaffer hurried down one of the tunneled halls, leaving a sad and helpless Frodo behind. He moped back inside the dim-lit parlor and slumped down on one of the chairs. There he sat and waited.

Two hours had passed, but Frodo continued to wait while the doctor visited Number 3 Bagshot Row. Suddenly his ears perked when hearing voices coming inside the parlor.

“Thank you,” Hamfast said gratefully to the doctor who nodded, biding him and Frodo farewell.

Frodo nodded back and after the doctor had gone, Mr. Baggins rose from where he sat and hastened over to Hamfast. “Will Sam be all right? I want to see him.”

The Gaffer drew in a deep breath and sighed. “His wound is mended, but he hasn’t awakened yet. Thank you for getting him home, Mr. Frodo. The best thing you can do is go home and get your rest. Come back tomorrow, you can see him then.”

Come back tomorrow, you can see him then.

The GafferÂ’s last words echoed relentlessly in FrodoÂ’s mind as he lay in bed. He gazed at the bedroom window, staring out into darkness. His thoughts refused to rest.

TomorrowÂ…will it ever come? The night seems to go on and on.

After hours of worry along with tossing and turning, Frodo finally surrendered to sleep that closed his tired eyes.

MorningÂ…it seemed to delay its arrival until FrodoÂ’s eyes snapped open. He sprang from the pillow; his legs swung over the edge of the bed.

“Sam,” he whispered.

Frodo quickly dressed into his white shirt and breeches. He hardly touched his breakfast. All Frodo thought of was Sam and raced down to Bagshot Row. Hamfast allowed an eager Frodo inside.

“He woke during the night,” said the Gaffer. “He’s sleeping again but you can see him.”

Frodo strolled down one of the tunnels. Stopping at SamÂ’s door, he opened it and eased inside the sunny and airy room. A chair had been set near the bed. Frodo sat down, staring at Sam tucked beneath white linens. A cloth firmly bandaged around his head. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, and then Frodo leaned closer.

“Sam? Sam, can you hear me?”

The gardener laid still, not even a flutter of his eyes.

With another effort, Frodo called a notch louder. “Sam?”

Silence.

Frodo feared he was still unconscious, which alarmed him greatly. Keeping worried eyes on Sam, he began with what had been on his mind. “Do you know what happened to my parents, Sam? With all the gossip, I am sure you know but I need to talk about it. They drowned in the Brandywine River and I never thought I could be close to anyone after losing them. Sometimes I’m afraid if I get close to someone, I’ll lose them like what happened to my parents. That’s how I felt when we met. When were at the inn, I wondered why you were hiding your face. So when you asked if I was all right, I was lost in thought about you not liking me. I felt you were ashamed because of my Uncle Bilbo and his adventure. Most think he and I are quite odd.”

Frodo paused to breath deeply, then he continued. “I wish I had the courage to tell you this before, but–,”

SamÂ’s eyes fluttered open.

“Sam!”

The gardener carefully turned his head toward Frodo and managed a weak smile. “Mr. Frodo.”

Ecstatic, Frodo replied, “You’re awake.”

“My Gaffer told me what you’ve done. And he said somethin’ else, you were very worried about me.”

“Of course I was worried!”

“You know, Mr. Frodo, here I was, thinkin’ you didn’t like me because I’m your gardener and you’re a Baggins. And when I was hiding my face, well, that was the only way I could stop myself from lookin’ at Rosie.”

“And IÂ’m thinking you didnÂ’t like me because–,” Frodo raised his eyebrows and it suddenly dawned on him, “You were listening!”

“I heard you call me. It sounded so far away, but it got louder and then I was awake.”

“Why didn’t you say something?”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Frodo. I wanted to listen and, well, what you said, I was glad to hear it. I don’t mean I’m glad about what happened to your parents and all. I mean, you went out of your way to share it with me…that says a lot, Mr. Frodo.”

Frodo smiled warmly and placed a comforting hand upon Sam’s shoulder. “I’m happy you’re feeling better, and I don’t have to say you’re merely a gardener. How does this sound…yes, I know Samwise Gamgee. He works in my Uncle Bilbo’s garden. A good lad he is, Sam, my friend.”

A huge grin stretched across Sam’s face, and when Frodo gazed into his eyes, he had a feeling his new friendship with the Gaffer’s son would be more than just any friendship. “There’s something special about Sam,” he thought, “Something special indeed.”

The End